RIB COMP QUESTIONS
1. What is the purpose of the ribcage/bony thorax?
2. Which ribs are considered true ribs?
3. Which ribs are considered false ribs?
4. Which ribs are considered floating ribs?
5. Which ribs have a costocartilage?
6. Which ribs do not have a costocartilage?
7. What does the vertebral end of the rib articulate with?
8. Name the parts of a rib…
9. Which vertebral level does the jugular notch correspond to?
10. Which vertebral level does the xiphoid tip correspond to?
11. Which vertebral level does the lower costal margin correspond to?
12. What type of joints are the sternocostal joints of rib 2-7?
13. What is the ideal kVp range for rib imaging?
14. What should the centering for upper ribs be? What anatomy should be included? Breathing
instructions?
15. What should the centering for the lower ribs be? What anatomy should be included? Breathing
instructions?
16. For upper ribs, how many ribs should be seen above the diaphragm?
17. For lower ribs, what is the minimum number of ribs that should be seen below the diaphragm?
18. For upper ribs, should the patient be erect or supine?
19. For lower ribs, should the patient be erect or supine?
20. Name 2 rib pathologies that can be seen radiographically…
21. What is the localized or generalized infection of bone and marrow that can be associated with
postoperative complications of open-heart surgery called?
22. If a patient has a rib fracture, what additional images are sometimes ordered?
23. If a patient has a rib fracture to their anterior auxiliary margin, what images should be taken?
Should they be positioned supine or erect?
24. If a patient has a lower/anterior rib fracture, how should they be positioned?
RIB COMP ANSWERS
1. Expandable, bellows like chamber (expands during inspiration and retracts during
expiration)Protect important organs of the respiratory system and vital structures within the
mediastinum such as the heart and greater vessels.
2. 1-7
3. 8-12
4. 11-12
5. 1-10
6. 11 and 12
7. The thoracic vertebrae at the costovertebral joint
8. Head, articular facets of the head, neck, tubercle, articular facets of the tubercle, angle, costal
groove, shaft (body)
9. T2-3
10. T9-10
11. L2-3
12. They are joints between the costocartilage and sternum. They are considered to be synovial
joints (allow slight plane /gliding motion)
13. 70-85kVp for upper ribs, and 75-85kVp for lower ribs
14. CR @ T7, Rib 1-10, ½ of vertebral column (include costovertebral joint), full inspiration
15. CR @ T10, Rib 8-12, ½ vertebral column (include costovertebral joint), full expiration
16. 10 ribs above the diaphragm
17. Ribs 8-12 should be visible above the diaphragm
18. Erect so that gravity can assist in lowering the diaphragm=deeper inspiration
19. Supine so that the diaphragm can rise to its highest point. Unless the patient has an ANTERIOR
fracture, in this case do it erect because you don’t want the patient laying on their fractured
ribs.
20. Rib fracture, flail chest, Metastases, Osteomyelitis
21. Osteomyelitis
22. Chest x-rays
23. Upper anterior rib views: PA (erect), PA Oblique with Affected side away from the IR (erect)
24. PA erect, with affected side away from the IR for oblique
